Triggering (Substances): Sleep Walking

[Aletheia*]

I know the title should mean it's somewhere else, but, I swear, it deals with substances.

So, lately, I've been noticing that when I drink a heavy amount of alcohol that I tend to sleep walk. Let me explain: I turned 21 on June 7th, and went out with my boyfriend and friends. I got home safely, was put into my own bed, but somehow walked into my grandma's room and fell asleep on her bed. This was the first incident. I don't remember any of it. I don't remember waking up, but my boyfriend found me and brought me back into my own room.

The second incident was after going out with friends. I went to bed again in my own room and bed fully clothed. Somehow, when I woke up the next morning, I was completely nude. My shirt was next to me on the floor, my shorts were in the bathroom down the hall. It's strange since I also have no recollection of this.

The last incident I'm aware of happened early this morning. My boyfriend and I had some friends over last night, and we got into an argument. We pretty much solved it but was told to go to sleep and talk about the issues in the morning when we were both sober. We did this. We slept in the same bed, but I woke up around 5 o'clock this morning, on the couch in his living room in the spot that is usually occupied by his dog. No recollection of this either. His mom said I was there when she woke up, and had turned on the computer, the lights and the TV and I still didn't budge.

I'm worried. I don't necessarily see it as a problem right now, but it is a little unnerving. I'm afraid that I might end up hurting someone else or myself in these processes. Is there anything I can do (other than to give up alcohol since that would be the obvious) to ensure this doesn't happen? If you can't point me in the right direction, it's okay. Get a little laugh out of the story, if you will . I just don't want this to turn into a problem.

[Revolution]

At first, I would right off blame the drugs, because it is proven that drugs in your system cause sleep walking. However, you did this sober as well. I sleep walk on occasion as well, and usually do it under the influence of sleeping pills, heavy dose allergy medicine, or alcohol. Are you taking other drugs?
Other things that can cause sleep walking is lack of sleep, the presence of other mental disorders that hurt your sleep cycle like insomnia, but can even include anxiety or depression, and sleep walking also runs in families.
Usually, you can't get hurt sleep walking, but I slept walked once and stuck my foot through a fan and got plastic stuck in it. xD So be careful.

[nurpshag]

Some people are more susceptible to sleep walking than others. I sleep walk all the time. I usually go to bed in my boxers and then I'll wake up the next morning full clothed. Another occasion I woke up with shinguards, football boots, socks, athletic shorts and my team's jersey on. Certainly confused the hell out of my mum when she came in to wake me up.

Now I'm worried about what I do when I drunk sleep walk.

[Aletheia*]

@Traci: I've never done this sober. I've only done it under the influence of alcohol. I know this because my boyfriend and I sleep in the same bed, and he would know if I got up. The bed is very loud, so when one of us gets in or out of bed, the other wakes up from the movement and the noise. When he's under the influence of alcohol, you can't wake him for anything which is why he hasn't noticed me getting out of bed when I've been drinking. Either that, or I'm a ninja . I don't do any other drugs, I'm against them. Alcohol is the only 'drug' I use but for recreational purposes only. It's strange. I'm not depressed or anxious, but my sister does sleep walk, but she hasn't been doing it often. She doesn't live with me anymore, so I'm not sure if she does or not, but she hasn't mentioned anything to me so I don't think she does anymore.

[Revolution]

Okay, I was confused by something you said, I thought you said it happened sober as well. I would blame the alcohol. It does run in families, but if you have only done with under the influence, I'm pretty sure it's the alcohol.

[Madeleine.Claire]

If it's just the alcohol then I would say don't go to bed until you're more sober, if it does scare you so much. Just avoid situations where you'll be getting wasted at night, or start cutting back a few more hours before bed. It doesn't sound like anything dangerous right now, but I sometimes sleep walk when I have awful anxiety and I've done some pretty weird stuff.. I just want you to be safe!
<3

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

While there are cases of violent or even homicidal somnambulism, it's uncommon to get to that extreme. Alcohol can increase the likelihood of sleep-walking and because you said this only happens after you've taken alcohol, it's likely alcohol-induced somnambulism.

Originally Posted by Coffee❤

At first, I would right off blame the drugs, because it is proven that drugs in your system cause sleep walking.

I'd like to see some evidence to support this claim, especially after such papers as the one below says, "[t]here is no direct experimental evidence that alcohol predisposes or triggers sleepwalking or related disorders".

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17542950

[Le bonheur*]

Blame the alcohol and nothing else. If it doesn't happen while you are sober than it has no other connection to anything else but the alcohol.

[Gidig]

I have friends who do this, it really isn't that uncommon. A friend who was staying with me and my family, I brought her back and she was drunk, and she tried to pull our television out from the wall while she was half-naked then went leaping down the hall way.

I think if you're not willing to give up alcohol, your best option would be to make sure when you drink someone is watching you, or theres nothing you can hurt yourself with. Perhaps get a lock for the door and put it somewhere you won't get when sleep walking so you're stuck in one room? Then safe-proof that room?

Have you tried Googling it? I've heard it happen so much, and I've done it myself, not every time I drink, but occasionally. Thankfully someone with my friends or family usually finds me and puts me back to bed.

Make sure those around you know to not just wake you up if you are sleep walking because you can go into shock. Not to mention get scared and hurt someone or yourself. It's best they watch you, and perhaps quietly and nicely try to steer you back to bed.

Best of luck!
Maria.